Monthly Archives: August 2018

WELCOME to an extended round-up of recent news. Most people will know by now that St John’s Church, Bridgetown, closed to the public a few weeks ago, whilst some major renovations and re-orderings are taking place. So we’ve taken a look at what’s happening with services and other events which are traditionally held within the St John’s Church premises – plus a week-by-week summary of the Windows of Opportunity works in progress.Also in this bulletin are some general / essential Community News updates (scroll right down for these), including an in-depth report on recent changes relating to the structure and opening hours of services now available within Marketplace Ministries, including the Drop In, Food Bank and other agencies and resources. There’s so much happening now under one roof, they have renamed it the Totnes Connection Hub.
Many thanks as always to everyone who sent in words and pictures.
• Coming soon: more community news updates, plus a look ahead at all Team Churches’ events and special services for late summer and autumn onwards

NEWS from St JOHN’S CHURCH

St John’s Services & Events – new venues due to closure of St John’s

Sundaysat 9.15amSt Mary’s Church, TotnesHOLY COMMUNION
Whilst St John’s is closed for repairs and refurbishments, the Sunday service normally held at St John’s at 9.30am is being held in St Mary’s Church, Totnes, at 9.15am, followed by coffee in St Mary’s Church Hall.

Mondays from 10am to 12noon in school term times
Totnes Boating AssociationPARENT / CARER and BABY & TODDLER GROUP
The group, run by St John’s Church, is being held at the above venue while St John’s is closed.

Opening dates and times during Septemberfor updates, please see Events page
Totnes Boating AssociationCOMMUNITY CAFÉ“A place of friendship and fellowship to the community.”
• the Café runs on a pay what you feel basis
• in early 2018, Bishop Robert visited “the café that’s making a real difference” – view avideo

Sunday 9th September 6.30pm to 8pm
Totnes Boating AssociationTHE CONVERSATIONIs there Absolute Truth?
“A new way of thinking about being the Christian Church. This informal and relaxed service exists for people who don’t belong to a church, and facilitates real and honest conversations about the biggest issues of life.”
• Open to all. No strings attached. Every voice welcomed
• see the Events page for further dates and themes

Sunday 30th September from 6.30pm to 7.15pmDartington Church Hall
SACRED SPACEPsalm 23A continuing initiative of St Mary’s and St John’s churches, an opportunity for alternative and creative worship.
• currently being held at Dartington Church Hall
• all welcome
• download a poster

So much has been happening this year at St John’s that it now has its own special section within the main website. New pages have been added, together with a large number of historical and contemporary photographs. Plus the pages above have detailed information about the projects at St John’s, including an ongoing bulletin of words and pictures (see below) relating to the progress of the Windows of Opportunity Project, which was launched towards the end of July.

• many thanks to Keith McKay who sourced and provided most of the new content for the extended St John’s section pages, and who also took the ‘in-progress’ photographs below – click the images to view them full size

We suggest you take a tour of the new and updated pages, starting with the Welcome to St John’s page (quick links to all the pages are above)

WEEK 1:On Monday 23rd July we handed over the keys for St John’s Church building to Bovey Construction. By the end of the month the construction compound had been put up, and the East Block (which will become our new kitchen and toilets) was completely gutted ready for the new internal layout.

above: Bovey Construction’s site compound and recognition of Heritage Lottery Fund funding for the Windows of Opportunity project at St John’s Church

WEEK 2:Week commencing 30th July, the scaffolders have started erecting the access scaffold on the east elevation to allow the new windows to be fitted and our rainwater goods to be partially renewed. Internal drainage works are also in progress. It feels like the project has gotten off to a really good start.

above & below: scaffolding being erected to the east elevation for access to windows and roof, and for security of the site

above: old kitchen and toilets removed ready for new drainage works and servery wall opening to right (marked out in pencil on wall)

WEEK 3:Week commencing 6th August, real progress has been made this week on internal alterations to the old toilet and kitchen block. The servery opening has been formed and new drainage works are being installed. Scaffolding is now complete on the west side of the church, and with full access now available work can start on removing the first two windows next week – at last!

above and below: old kitchen and toilet block alterations in progress with servery opening viewed from inside the new kitchen and from the foyer area

above and below: scaffold on the west side of the church now complete – site secure and safe access to all windows and rainwater goods now possible

above: rainwater goods accessible for inspection from East scaffold

WEEK 4:Week commencing 13th August – kitchen works progressing, office plumbing being investigated, windows on east and west sides being removed and opening protected.

above: partition walls between new toilets and kitchen in progress
above: metal window sections and glazing for 5 windows on east side of church
above & below: East elevation: first floor new window fitted (kitchen end) and last old window (fire escape end) being removed

Below is some essential information about recent developments within the Marketplace Ministries / Totnes Connection Hub – plus, further down, a couple of bulletins about House Groups and Community Potlucks. We will be sending out a longer Community News blog soon, with further bulletins relating to recent weeks.

Totnes Connection Hub Food Bank serves Totnes and the surrounding region. We offer one-off Emergency Food Parcels, as well as ongoing support for those who need it.

We get donations from Tesco Fair Share, Morrisons Collection Point and Food In Community.

Referrals

If you need ongoing support, you will need to get a referral.

We currently accept referrals from the following organisations:

Job Centre

Citizen’s Advice Bureau

South Hams District Council

Daisy Play Centre

Totnes C of E Team

Devon Home Choice

Caring Town Totnes

South Hams Children’s Centre

Family Advice Support Team

Devon County Council

Action for Children

Further information about the Totnes Connection Hub Food Bank

(click to enlarge)

The Marketplace Ministries building continues to house the Drop In Food Bank and Transition Club.Jobs are advertised weekly and training offered. They have a suite of computers for people to use and learn to use. There is a free computer course running throughout August and a range of courses are run in conjunction with the POA throughout the year.

Hot meals for the homeless are available in the mornings, but people can drop in from 9.45am to 1pm (all week) and then again from 2pm to 4 pm, Tuesday to Thursday, plus Sunday 12.30pm to 1.30pm (closed on Saturdays).
This means anyone begging on the streets has access to help throughout the week.
Andy Callow from the Drug and Alcohol Service also has an office in the Marketplace Ministries building and is available from Tuesday to Thursday (similar hours to the Food Bank).
Because so much is going on under one roof, they have renamed the facility The Totnes Connection Hub in order to make it fully welcome to everyone in need whatever their need.
• there is a Teignmouth Connection Hub, too, which Marketplace Ministries has set up with the Council there in response to a rise in homelessness, this is just a couple of mornings and is held in Teignmouth Library.

Cleaning materials and toiletries are welcome for inclusion with the items which can be donated.

Suitable food donations could include:

Rice, pasta, noodles, cereals and other dried foods

Tinned soups (likewise tinned meat, vegetables and puddings)

Sugar, tea, coffee, squash, UHT drinks, biscuits

Other non perishables.

Tips: When you see a “Buy One Get One Free” offer – donate the free one! Or just buy an extra item anyway, everytime you go shopping.

• please contact Liz Waterson if you need further information about donating items via the St Mary’s Church drop-off collection, on 01803 849345

Community PotlucksHelpers are needed to assist in running these very popular events!
Potlucks run on the 3rd Friday of each month.
If you can help out, please click on the calendar (above) for dates, or click here to download a printable pdf. Then contact Liz Waterson on 01803 849345, who will put you in touch with the organisers.

Afternoon House GroupWe restart on Tuesday September 18th at 2pm meeting at Anne Binn’s house – 8 Rowsells Lane Bridgetown.
We will continue to meet every 2 weeks until the end of November taking a break in December. The theme for this short term is the Sunday readings and Collects. We shall look at the readings and collects for the coming Sunday. It will then prepare us to hear them better and see the way in which the readings are chosen to complement each other.
• further information form Liz Waterson 01803 849345